CC108 Myth and Religion in the Ancient CityCC108 Myth and Religion in the Ancient CityMichael Clarke, Myth and the Fighting MaleMichael Clarke, Myth and the Fighting Male

Myth: some key booksMyth: some key books

T.H. Carpenter, T.H. Carpenter, Art and Myth in Art and Myth in Ancient GreeceAncient Greece (Thames and Hudson) (Thames and Hudson)

Homer, Homer, OdysseyOdyssey translated by Martin translated by Martin Hammond (Duckworth)Hammond (Duckworth)

H. Morales, H. Morales, Greek Mythology: a Very Greek Mythology: a Very Short Introduction Short Introduction (Oxford U.P.)(Oxford U.P.)

R.A. Segal, R.A. Segal, Myth: a Very Short Myth: a Very Short Introduction Introduction (Oxford U.P.)(Oxford U.P.)

0.5 What is myth?0.5 What is myth?

(a) “Fiction, invention, fantasy”(a) “Fiction, invention, fantasy”

(b) “A story told with authority” (b) “A story told with authority”

Two ancient Greek words:Two ancient Greek words: muthos muthos “utterance, tale”“utterance, tale” logos logos “system, idea, underlying “system, idea, underlying

meaning”meaning”

1.The symbolic imagination: a 1.The symbolic imagination: a prehistoric image (33,000 years old)prehistoric image (33,000 years old)

1. The Hohlenstein ivory figure1. The Hohlenstein ivory figure

2. The rise of the city2. The rise of the city

3. The cities of ancient 3. The cities of ancient Mesopotamia (= Iraq)Mesopotamia (= Iraq)

4. Images that we can 4. Images that we can interpret: the Seal of Adda, in interpret: the Seal of Adda, in the British Museum, Londonthe British Museum, London

5. The western edge of that 5. The western edge of that world: Greece and the city world: Greece and the city

((polispolis))

5. Rise of the polis, “city-5. Rise of the polis, “city-state”state”

6. An image that we can match 6. An image that we can match up with a story, from c. 700 up with a story, from c. 700

bcebce

7. Vase paintings with inscriptions: Achilles fights 7. Vase paintings with inscriptions: Achilles fights Memnon to the deathMemnon to the death

8. The voice of the singer (8. The voice of the singer (aoidosaoidos, bard, oral poet; , bard, oral poet; rhapsodos, ‘stitcher of songs’)rhapsodos, ‘stitcher of songs’)

Storytelling and song: ancient Storytelling and song: ancient GreeceGreece

8. Storytelling and song in Gaelic Ireland8. Storytelling and song in Gaelic Ireland(as seen through English eyes, c.1600 AD)(as seen through English eyes, c.1600 AD)

9. A family of personal gods9. A family of personal gods

10. The births of Athene and 10. The births of Athene and DionysosDionysos

11. Zeus and 11. Zeus and Metis Metis (‘Cunning’)(‘Cunning’)

11. 11. Zeus as king of the gods made Zeus as king of the gods made MetisMetis (‘Cunning’, ‘Trickery’) to be his first wife, the (‘Cunning’, ‘Trickery’) to be his first wife, the wisest of all among gods and mortal men. But wisest of all among gods and mortal men. But when she was about to give birth to the owl-eyed when she was about to give birth to the owl-eyed goddess Athene, he tricked her deceitfully with goddess Athene, he tricked her deceitfully with cunning words and put her away in his belly on cunning words and put her away in his belly on the advice of Gaia and starry Ouranos (Earth-the advice of Gaia and starry Ouranos (Earth-goddess and Sky-god)…For it was destined that goddess and Sky-god)…For it was destined that clever children would be born from Metis: first an clever children would be born from Metis: first an owl-eyed daughter, Athene, with courage and owl-eyed daughter, Athene, with courage and sound counsel equal to her father’s, and then a sound counsel equal to her father’s, and then a son she was to bear, king of gods and men, one son she was to bear, king of gods and men, one proud of heart. But Zeus put her away in his belly proud of heart. But Zeus put her away in his belly first, so that the goddess could advise him of what first, so that the goddess could advise him of what was good and bad.was good and bad. (Hesiod, (Hesiod, TheogonyTheogony 886 ff.) 886 ff.)

12. Religious practice12. Religious practice

12. Simple piety12. Simple piety They led in a five-year-old sow, very fat.They led in a five-year-old sow, very fat. They set it by the hearth; nor did the swineherdThey set it by the hearth; nor did the swineherd forget the immortals; for he had the use of good forget the immortals; for he had the use of good

thoughts;thoughts; and beginning he threw hairs in the fire from the and beginning he threw hairs in the fire from the

headhead of the shining-tusked sow, and prayed to all the of the shining-tusked sow, and prayed to all the

godsgods for the return of wise-minded Odysseus to his own for the return of wise-minded Odysseus to his own

home.home. ((OdysseyOdyssey 14.419-24) 14.419-24)

13. Gods cruel and kind13. Gods cruel and kind The Trojans sacrificed full hecatombs to the The Trojans sacrificed full hecatombs to the

immortal gods,immortal gods, and the winds bore the sizzling smoke from the and the winds bore the sizzling smoke from the

ground up to the sky,ground up to the sky, sweet; but the blessed gods did not feast upon it,sweet; but the blessed gods did not feast upon it, they were unwilling: for they felt only hatred they were unwilling: for they felt only hatred

towards holy Troy… towards holy Troy… (Homer, (Homer, IliadIliad 8.547-51) 8.547-51)

14. The hero or half-god: 14. The hero or half-god: Heracles and his exploitsHeracles and his exploits

15. From the play 15. From the play IonIon by by EuripidesEuripides

First speaker. Look, the son of Zeus is killing the First speaker. Look, the son of Zeus is killing the Lernaian Lernaian hydrahydra (water-snake) with his golden blade. Dear one, look (water-snake) with his golden blade. Dear one, look with your eyes.with your eyes.

Second speaker. I see. And close to him another man is Second speaker. I see. And close to him another man is lifting up a torch blazing with fire – is he the one whose lifting up a torch blazing with fire – is he the one whose myth is told myth is told (mutheuetai)(mutheuetai) when we are spinning, when we are spinning, IolaosIolaos the the shieldbearer, who endures the same sufferings as Zeus’ shieldbearer, who endures the same sufferings as Zeus’ son? (Ion 190-200)son? (Ion 190-200)

16. A vase painting of the same scene: 16. A vase painting of the same scene: Heracles and Iolaos kill the hydraHeracles and Iolaos kill the hydra

17. Theseus: the hero asserts 17. Theseus: the hero asserts order over chaosorder over chaos

The deeds of the hero TheseusThe deeds of the hero Theseus

18. The heroes are subject to 18. The heroes are subject to deathdeath

This week’s Thursday “circus” This week’s Thursday “circus” lecturelecture

MJC, “Why we are here: Classics and MJC, “Why we are here: Classics and the university tradition in Europe”the university tradition in Europe”

19. Next week: the wars of 19. Next week: the wars of Thebes and TroyThebes and Troy

City of images: painted City of images: painted potterypottery

Liminality: ambiguity and Liminality: ambiguity and contradiction in mythcontradiction in myth

HUMAN

ANIMAL

The myth of OedipusThe myth of Oedipus

The hero in Greek mythology: The hero in Greek mythology: on the cusp between god and on the cusp between god and

manman

GOD MORTAL

HERO

Orienting ourselves: the Orienting ourselves: the origins of civilisation from origins of civilisation from

about 3000 bceabout 3000 bce

Mary in the myths of Mary in the myths of Catholicism: liminal between Catholicism: liminal between

mother and virginmother and virgin